408-389-3524
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23 Years
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Happy Customers
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Here are just a few of the many teachers offering Piano lessons in Saratoga . Whether you are looking for beginner guitar lessons for your kids, or are an adult wanting to improve your skills, the instructors in our network are ready to help you now!
Instruments: Piano Keyboard
Hello! I am Bobby, and I am I a driven piano instructor in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am a current member of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where I major in Technology and Applied Composition in conjunction with my piano studies. I am a passionate composer and I write a lot of music for the piano. I have performed for several institutions from coast to coast including the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Berklee College of Music, University of Southern California, the University of Colorado in Boulder and more. Read More
Instruments: Piano
I like to set clear but realistic goals for students, so each student can learn at their own pace. I'm a big believer in positive reinforcement. I think the best motivation comes from within, and I aim to fuel this by finding out what inspires the student most and helping them reach their own goals. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice Drums Music Keyboard
I work with my students at the level and pace that they are comfortably happy. We all come to music and music lessons for different reasons. My work is to honor that space and demonstrate that making music is an option for anyone who wants it, regardless of any perceived “barriers” in place. I am currently learning and researching models of Universal Design for Learning. I apply as many techniques as possible to engage with students and make the music both cognitively appropriate and musically enjoyable. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice
My teaching is about empowering people with music. In my experience, telling students whattodois much more powerful than telling them whatnot to do. I believe that patience, encouragement, kindness, and humor are the best teaching accessories. I believe that as a teacher I must listen and watch with just as much attention as I do when I instruct through demonstration or verbal direction. I keep verbal direction and explanations simple. Read More
Instruments: Piano Voice
Music has taken me to see places of the world I would have never been, music has given me some of the coolest jobs in my life. Playing organ for the San Jose Sharks NHL team was a dream come true, and I am still the youngest person to have held that job in the NHL. They still use all of my recordings. I went to the Virgin Islands last year to perform with a band on New Year's Eve, total paradise all to enjoy just for playing some music! Read More
Instruments: Piano Oboe
One of the most enjoyable things about teaching is to learn from my students and learn to harmoniously interact with different personalities. My teaching experience dates back to my high school junior year in California, as I began teaching private piano and oboe lessons at students' homes, and have been consistently teaching one-on-one lessons until currently. I started with teaching children and younger teenagers, and then began to teach adults during my undergraduate years. Read More
Instruments: Piano Trumpet
Acknowledging accomplishments is an ideal way to motivate a student to improve. While critiquing a student's weaknesses is something a teacher should do, celebrating the positive moments in playing can help engrave good habits. Whether you are trying to learn for fun or trying to get into the college of dreams for music, I am able to cater my teaching style to the needs of the student and this makes music fun for everyone! Read More
Instruments: Drums
What is your dream piece to perform and why?
Just about any Pink Floyd song!
If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
I would likely be teaching another subject. I absolutely love teaching.
What does a normal practice session look like for you?
I typically would warm up and start by locking into a metronome. I then usually loosen up with stick control and rudiment based exercises. Next, I work on new concepts, songs, and styles; with a great deal of repetition.
Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
For very young students, I typically start with the Hal Leonard Book, Drums for Kids. For older or slightly more experienced students, I start with exercises that cover: Fundamental drum patterns, phrasing, and fills. When the student can show that they have a grasp of the fundamentals, we then typically move on to more challenging concepts, including: Sound source (voicing) exercises, note subdivision exercises, more challenging books, and (last but not least) songs. All of the above is supplemented and reinforced by two great books called: Stick Control for the Snare Drummer, and Syncopation for the Modern Drummer. Those two books are great for developing control, proper articulation (stick rebound), coordination, and sight reading skills. For more advanced students, I would typically jump directly into songs and styles; along with concepts that are generally more advanced (i.e. polyrhythms, strange time signatures, and independent coordination).
What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
On the drum set, orchestration is often the trickiest to master. Orchestration could be seen as how a drummer can make each part of the drum set speak, in a relative way.
Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
I am very proud of a student who recently was selected to join, Camp Chase Drum and Fifes. This is an extremely selective group of Civil War reenacting musicians.
Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I showed a sense of rhythm from a young age. My ears naturally hone in on the percussion instruments.
What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am very proud to have performed at many of the major venues, in the Detroit metropolitan area. Most notably one of my groups opened for the legendary Jazz-Funk group, The Headhunters. This group was formed by the amazing Herbie Hancock!
How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
In my humble opinion, if the child shows genuine enthusiasm for the instrument.
When will I start to see results?
In my experience, that is largely dependent on the students willingness to practice, in a structured and routine way. Usually, the more practice and repetition, the quicker the progress.
Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
Absolutely! I studied under two outstanding teachers, Donnie Gruendler and Darryl Pierce. I learned a GREAT deal through private instruction, and therefore teach through direct experience; by practically applying subjects that improved my playing (i.e. techniques, concepts, and books).
What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
In my experience, structured practice, is most effective. For example, practicing specific concepts and exercises will generally result in quicker progress. While there is something to be said for creative practice, when the student plays any old thing, progress can be much slower; if that unstructured and non-specific route is taken with a practice routine.
What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
I like groove oriented music a great deal. There is nothing like having people dance to your music.
When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I decided to begin working as a professional musician, when I was about 20 years of age. It was a gradual process, that represents years of hard work and dedication.
23 Years
Since We Started
41,456+
Happy Customers
10,769
Cities with Students
3,123
Teachers in Network
Trusted as the industry leader, for over 21 years the teachers in our network have been providing Piano lessons in Saratoga to students of all ages and abilities.
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